Traffic signal



1,623,889 W. L. PHILLIPS TRAFFIC SIGNAL April 5 1927.

Filed Oct. 18, 1926 INVENTOR ATTO R N EY Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

UNITE STATES I 1,623,889 PATENT ()FFIQE.

WENDELL L. PHILLIPS, 0F BONAIR, IOWA.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

Application filed October 13, 1926. Serial No. 142,432.

This invention relates to a signal for motor vehicles and the like, the general object of the invention being to provide a simple hand operated signal for indicating when the vehicle is to be turned to either the right or left or is to be stopped.

A. further object of the invention is to provide an arrow-shaped signal arm to which is attached a gear with a double rack bar having one rack engaging the gear and its other engaging a second gear which is provided with a handle so that it can he turned to cause the rack bar to operate the signal arm through the gear attached to the said arm.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appendcd claim. 7

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a View showing the device in use on a closed type of vehicle.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the device.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig ure 2.

In these views, 1 indicates an elongated casing which has its outer end open, the opening extending a considerable distance through the bottom of the casing and a shorter distance through the top of the casing. A. sprocket or gear 2 is carried by a bolt or shaft L which passes through the outer end of the casing and a signal arm 5 of arrow shape is carried by the said shaft or bolt and is arranged to move with the gear. A second gear 6 is carried by a shaft or bolt 7 which passes through the inner end of the casing and has a handle 8 and a pointer 9 attached to its outer end, the pointer cooperating with a dial 10 on the casin A rack bar 11, having a rack at each end thereof, is slid-ably arranged in the top of the casing, with one rack engaging the gear 2 and the other engaging the gear 6. A leaf spring 12 is fastened to the top of the casing and presses the bar downwardly to keep its racks in engagement with the gears. A hole 13 is formed in the inner end of the casing for the passage of. the rack when the device. is being operated.

Normally the parts are positioned to place the signal arm 5 in the casing, the arm passing into the casing through the opening in the bottom of the said casing. When the vehicle is to be stopped, the shaft 7 moved by its handle 8 to place the pointer 9 opposite the letter S on the dial, this letter indicating Stop. This will place the parts in the position shown in Figure 2, with the. arrow pointing downwardly. lVhen a left turn is to be made, the pointer is moved to the left position on the dial, which will move the parts to a position where the arrow will be horizontal, as shown in full lines in Figure 1. lVhen a right turn is to be made, the arrow is swung upwardly to the dotted line position in Figure 1, by moving the pointer to the letter R on the dial.

The parts are held in their adjusted positions by means of friction exerted by the spring 12 on the rack bar, and I may also provide friction means for engaging the pointer, such as by making a projection opposite each point on the dial and making a depression in the pointer or a part of the handle for receiving the projection when the parts are in register.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided a simple and easily open able signal which can be manufactured to sell atlow cost and which can be placed on a vehicle by a person unskilled with the use ofv tools.

It is thought from the foregoing descriptionthat the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is A signal of the class described comprising an elongated casing having its outer end open, the opening extending a cons1clerable distance through the top of the casing and a greater distance from the bottom of the casing and a small opening in the inner end of the casing, a shaft rotatably mounted in each end of the casing, a gear on each shaft, a handle connected with the inner shaft, a signal arm connected with the outer shaft, said arm being of less length than that of the opening in the bottom of the casing so that the arm can enter the easing through said opening, a rack bar in the casing having a rack at each end thereof for engaging the gears, a leaf spring connected at its center to the top of the casing and having its ends engaging the rack bar for holding its racks in engagement with the gears the small opening in the inner end of the casing permitting the inner end 10 nal arm to be moved upwardly to a verti- 15 cal position.

In testimony whereof Iafiix my signature WENDELL L. PHILLIPS. 

